POLICE have arrested a 22-year-old postal worker after hundreds of letters were found dumped in a village near Sittingbourne.

Residents from Oak Road at Murston called police after an elderly lady spotted letters being dumped among stinging nettles down an alleyway off Oak Road and Broom Road.

A postal worker, who lives in the Sittingbourne area, has been released on police bail until June 21.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said: "We can confirm that, following the discovery of a number of items of mail found dumped near Broom Road, we are investigating allegations of failure to deliver mail, which is a criminal offence.

“All the recovered mail has now been delivered. We are liaising with the police on this and can confirm that we are also reviewing our arrangements with the recruitment company who supplied the person under investigation.”